2(52 



POPULAR GARDEN BOTANY. 



trees in Australia, and if allowed to grow in high conserva- 

 tories become very large plants, but as they flower freely when 

 kept dwarf they are sometimes introduced into the green- 

 house, and there are many interesting species to choose from, 

 most of them with beautiful foliage and white flowers, with 

 numerous stamens, which are much longer than the calyx; 

 these flowers are rendered more conspicuous by being in 

 corymbs or groups. The best species are macrocar and coc- 

 ci/era. In the conservatory or greenhouse they should have 

 a soil composed of loam and peat. 



LEPTOSPERMUM. (South Sea Myrtle.) 



Gen. Char. (Icosandria Monogynia.) Calyx persistent at the 

 base, five-cleft, half-superior ; petals five, clawed, round, longer 

 than the stamens ; stigma capitate ; capsule depressed, four or 

 five-celled ; seeds angular and slender. 



Named from Greek words, in allusion to the extreme 

 thinness of the seeds. The leaves of these shrubs are used 

 as Tea in New South Wales and New Zealand, and are said 

 to have an agreeable bitter flavour, and a pleasant smell. 

 Some of the species are introduced into this country, and 

 are pretty greenhouse shrubs, with white flowers. L. $co- 



